Have you ever heard of Edwin Booth? He was one of the greatest male actors of the 19th century. Also, he looked like this:
Unfortunately, he had a brother who was a bit of a troublemaker, which kind of sullied the family name, and the historical record.
This is really a pity, as not only was E. Booth hot and talented, but he was a bit of a hero. Just read this letter from the young man whose life he saved:
The incident occurred while a group of passengers were late at night purchasing their sleeping car places from the conductor who stood on the station platform at the entrance of the car. The platform was about the height of the car floor, and there was of course a narrow space between the platform and the car body. There was some crowding, and I happened to be pressed by it against the car body while waiting my turn. In this situation the train began to move, and by the motion I was twisted off my feet, and had dropped somewhat, with feet downward, into the open space, and was personally helpless, when my coat collar was vigorously seized and I was quickly pulled up and out to a secure footing on the platform. Upon turning to thank my rescuer I saw it was Edwin Booth, whose face was of course well known to me, and I expressed my gratitude to him, and in doing so, called him by name.
Wow! How awesome is that!
And the young man? That was Robert Todd Lincoln.
Pity about what happened with Edwin’s brother and the other Lincoln a few months later.
Heard of him, and that’s about it. Thank you for the additional info! 🙂
ah! that’s so awesome. I love these posts that you do about interesting historical people.
I love when you do these historical people posts. They’re really interesting.
He’s almost as hot as one of the other Lincoln assassins:
http://bangabledudesinhistory.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-felt-little-unworthy-of-cause-when-my.html
(Yup, Bangable Dudes in History is one of my fave blogs!)
But he wasn’t the Lincoln assassin! He was the Lincoln hero! And he didn’t even get along with his brother.
Thanks for that history lesson I wouldnt have known and I love learning historical things.
Wow he sure is a hottie!
Uh-huh! He had nice legs too. He did a lot of Shakespeare, so there are lots of photographs of him in tights. I do love a man in a good pair of tights!
How could I have not known this story! Fascinating for so many reasons. I learn so much on this blog.
I knew this story–but had never seen a pic of Edwin before! Quite the looker indeed–those eyes! Makes the whole thing that much more…interesting 🙂
Indeed (wiggles eyebrows)
He was a Freemason…? I didn’t know that.
I think his brother was better looking! LOL
He had mustache, too.
Wow, thanks for the post. I knew John Booth had an actor brother, I have read many Lincoln/Todd bios, I have visited the Lincoln home and museums in Springfield, IL, and the community where I live has strong ties to President Lincoln and Robert Lincoln, but this tidbit of history I had not heard of before. Talk about happenstance.